Coupled Swing-Arm Drive Wheels for Uneven Ground Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile transport systems struggle to maintain consistent contact pressure on uneven ground surfaces, leading to potential instability and inefficiency in object transportation.
Innovation Solution
A mobile transport system design featuring a vehicle frame, first and second support wheels, and drive wheels with a swing frame pivotable about a swing axis. The system includes a coupling unit with rocker and struts that allow the drive wheels to maintain contact with the ground by adjusting their position relative to each other, preventing tilting and ensuring high contact pressure without the need for springs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional mobile transport system with fixed wheel positions is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the system cannot maintain consistent contact pressure on uneven ground surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the wheel support structure movable rather than fixed. The first and second support wheels are mounted on swing arms that can pivot relative to the vehicle frame, allowing the wheels to dynamically adjust their positions to compensate for uneven ground surfaces and maintain consistent contact pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the wheel support system into independent swing arms for each support wheel. Each swing arm can pivot independently about a swing axis, allowing individual adjustment of each wheel's position to adapt to local ground variations while maintaining overall system stability.
2Reliability
If spring elements are added to maintain wheel contact pressure, then contact consistency improves, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the self-service principle by designing a passive swing arm mechanism that automatically adjusts wheel position in response to ground variations. The system uses the natural pivot motion of the swing arms about fixed swing axes to self-regulate contact pressure without requiring active control systems, springs, or other complex compliance elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the conventional spring-based compliance mechanism with a rigid swing arm pivot mechanism. Instead of using elastic deformation of springs to accommodate ground variations, the system uses the rotational degree of freedom of the swing arms pivoting about fixed axes to achieve the same adaptive function.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the swing frame is made pivotable to compensate for uneven ground, then ground adaptation improves, but the risk of tilting and instability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the stabilization function into two independent levels: the swing frame pivot provides terrain adaptation at the frame level, while the individual swing arms provide stabilization at the wheel level. This segmentation allows each subsystem to perform its specific function without interfering with the other, maintaining overall vehicle stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetric positioning of the swing axis relative to the vehicle centerline and asymmetric coupling between the swing frame and vehicle frame. This asymmetric configuration creates a stable pivot point that allows the swing frame to adapt to ground variations while maintaining controlled motion and preventing uncontrolled tilting.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile transport system includes a vehicle frame, first and second pairs of support wheels, first and second drive wheels, and a swing frame. A drive unit including a drive frame is disposed on the swing frame. The first drive wheel is rotatably supported on a first swing arm, and the second drive wheel is rotatably supported on a second swing arm. The first and second swing arms are coupled to each other by a coupling unit, such that a pivot motion of the first swing arm about a first swing axis in a first pivot direction brings about a pivot motion of the second swing arm about a second swing axis in a second pivot direction oriented opposite to the first pivot direction.